Image processing system, image processing apparatus, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

A disclosed image processing system includes an image forming apparatus and an image processing apparatus connected via a network, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a receiving portion receiving a designation of a workflow produced by arbitrarily assembling a plug-in of an image dividing and converting process for image data and a plug-in of an output process and includes an image dividing and converting process, and a communicating portion transmitting a request for processing the workflow to the image processing apparatus along with the image data, and the image processing apparatus includes a workflow controlling portion carrying out the processes when a request for carrying out these processes is received, and a workflow processing portion carrying out the workflow while dividing the image data by using a length of a longitudinal side of the image data based on a control with the workflow controlling portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to an image processing system,an image processing apparatus, and a recording medium saving an imagedividing program.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, image input and output apparatuses such as amultifunction peripheral are installed in or connected to networks inmany business organizations. The image input and output apparatuses playa great role as a measure for making business more efficient.Especially, an image processing system for making computerization anddistribution of paper documents more efficient becomes increasinglyimportant. A large factor in structuring the image processing system isan image input apparatus such as a scanner and an image processingserver. Plural delivery processing menus for various works and uses areregistered in the image processing server in advance. Users can carryout a scan by selecting a suitable one for the work from processingmenus suitable for works on an operations panel of a scanner.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a deliveryoperation or an image converting operation is enabled to be plugged in,and a user or an administrator makes workflows of input, imageconversion, and output by arbitrarily combining these plug-ins anddelivers the image data using the made workflows.

Patent Document 2 discloses a technique in which a designated manuscriptis printed so that new chapters are printed on front faces of paperswhen a single-sided manuscript is copied to double sides of papers.

With the above described image processing system, there is a demand ofdividing image data aggregated as 2-in-1 into two sheets of 1 in 1 whenthe image data are aggregated as 2-in-1. Patent Document 2 merelydetermines discontinuities of the manuscript and cannot divide imagedata by providing, for example, a plug-in for dividing into chapters.Therefore, with the background art, it is not possible to divide animage and send it in conformity with a user' request.

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.    2006-018640-   Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 3645564

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide a novel anduseful image processing system, image processing apparatus, andrecording medium solving one or more of the problems discussed above.

More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a noveland useful image processing system, image processing apparatus, andrecording medium which can divide image data and deliver the dividedimage data in consideration of the above problems.

One aspect of the embodiments of the present invention may be to providean image processing system including an image forming apparatus and animage processing apparatus connected via a network, wherein the imageforming apparatus includes a receiving portion configured to receive adesignation of a workflow which is produced by arbitrarily assembling atleast a plug-in of an image dividing and converting process for imagedata and a plug-in of an output process and includes an image dividingand converting process for dividing the image data, and a communicatingportion configured to transmit a request for processing the workflow tothe image processing apparatus along with the image data received fromthe image forming apparatus, wherein the image processing apparatusincludes: a workflow controlling portion configured to carry out any oneof the image dividing and converting process, the output process, andthe divided image dividing and converting process included in theworkflow when a request for carrying out the any one of the imagedividing and converting process, the output process, and the imagedividing and converting process is received from the image formingapparatus, and a workflow processing portion configured to carry out theworkflow while dividing the image data by using a length of alongitudinal side of the image data based on a control with the workflowcontrolling portion.

Additional objects and advantages of the embodiments will be set forthin part in the description which follows, and in part will be clear fromthe description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Objectsand advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by meansof the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example image processing system of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 2 is a hardware block chart of an example MFP of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 is a hardware block chart of an example image processing serverof Embodiment 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates example functions of the MFP and the image processingserver of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of setting up a workflow and an imagedividing plug-in.

FIG. 6 is a block chart illustrating example functions of a workflowprocessing portion of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B and FIG. 70 illustrate an example 1 of dividing animage.

FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B and FIG. 80 illustrate an example 2 of dividing animage.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example workflow process of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example image dividing process ofEmbodiment 1.

FIG. 11 illustrates example functions of the MFS′ and the imageprocessing server of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 12 illustrates a setup example 1 of a dividing position.

FIG. 13 illustrates a setup example 2 of a dividing position.

FIG. 14 is a block chart illustrating example functions of a workflowprocessing portion of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 15A, FIG. 15B and FIG. 15C schematically illustrate image divisionof the setup example 1.

FIG. 16A, FIG. 16B and FIG. 16C schematically illustrate image divisionof the setup example 2.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of an example workflow process of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of an example image dividing process ofEmbodiment 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A description is given below, with reference to the FIG. 1 through FIG.18 of embodiments of the present invention.

Reference symbols typically designate as follows:

-   10, 20, 60: MFP;-   30: image processing server;-   40: image managing server;-   50: information processing terminal;-   101: image reading portion;-   102: communicating portion;-   103: receiving portion;-   104: storing portion;-   301, 400: workflow setting portion;-   302: communicating portion;-   303: job executing portion;-   304: workflow controlling portion;-   305, 701: workflow processing portion;-   306: storing portion;-   351, 711: image dividing portion;-   352: form converting portion;-   354: folder delivering portion;-   355: mail transmitting portion;-   402: coupling determining portion;-   403: storing portion; and-   601: setting portion.

With the embodiments, a multifunction peripheral in which a printerfunction, a scanner function, a copy function and a facsimile functionare installed in one casing is exemplified. However, the presentinvention is not limited thereto. As long as the image data can beinput, the present invention is applicable to any one of a scanner, afacsimile machine, a copy machine and so on.

Embodiment 1 Image Processing Apparatus and Hardware

FIG. 1 illustrates an example image processing system of Embodiment 1.As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image processing system includes aMultifunction Peripheral (MFP) 10, a MFP 20, an image processing server30, an image managing server 40, and an information processing terminal50 such as a Personal Computer (PC) and a Personal Data Assistance(PDA), which are connected via a network. Hereinafter, an MFP isexemplified as the image processing apparatus.

The MFP 10 and the MFP 20 have a scan function, a copy function, aprinter function, and a facsimile function in one casing. The MFP 10 andthe MFP 20 generate image data by scanning a paper medium or the like bythe scanner function, and the generated image data are transmitted tothe image processing server 30. A detailed description of the MFP isgiven later. The image data contain image data of documents.

The image processing server 30 receives image data scanned by each MFPand carries out various processes and delivery in conformity with thedesignated workflow. The workflow includes mail transmission, facsimiletransmission, folder delivery, and so on.

The image processing server 30 carries out a workflow based on inputimage data and carries out an accumulation of documents or delivery inconformity with a workflow constructed by a user. From a standpoint ofprocessing images, the image processing server 30 functions as an imageprocessing apparatus. A detailed description of the image processingserver 30 will be described later. The image processing server 30 may beassembled in the MFP 10 or the MFP 20.

The image managing server 40 accumulates and manages the image datadelivered from the image processing server 30. Further, the imagemanaging server 40 can register image types of the accumulated imagedata and can search the accumulated image data.

The information processing terminal 50 produces a workflow bysequentially selecting plug-ins of image conversion and output. Theformed workflow is stored in the image processing server 30. The numberof the MFPs and the information processing terminals which are connectedvia the network may be an arbitrary number. The image processing systemmay have a mail delivery server or the like. When the image processingserver 30 is assembled into the MFP, it is possible to produce theworkflow in the MFP.

Hardware of the MFP 10 and the image processing server 30 is describednext. FIG. 2 illustrates an example MFP as hardware of Embodiment 1. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, the MFP 10 includes a control unit 11, a mainmemory unit 12, an auxiliary memory unit 13, an external memory deviceI/F unit 14, a network I/F unit 16, an operation unit 17, and a displayunit 18.

The CPU 11 is installed in a computer and carries out controls ofvarious units and portions, and arithmetic computation and processing ofdata in the computer. The control unit 11 is an arithmetic device whichexecutes programs stored in the main memory unit 12, receives data froman input device or a memory device, provides arithmetic computation andprocessing with these, and outputs the results to an output device orthe memory device.

The main memory unit 12 may be a Read Only Memory (ROM) or a RandomAccess Memory (RAM), and constantly or temporarily store programs anddata, processed by the control unit 11, such as an Operating System (OS)being basic software or an application software.

The auxiliary memory unit 13 may be a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and storesdata related to the application software or the like.

The external memory device I/F unit 14 is an interface between a storagemedium 15 such as a flash memory and the MFP 10 connected via a datacommunication line such as a universal serial bus (USB).

The storage medium 15 stores a predetermined program, and the programstored in the recording medium 15 is installed in the MFP 10 via theexternal memory device I/F unit 14. The installed program becomesexecutable with the MFP 10.

The network I/F unit 16 is an interface between the MFP 10 andperipheral apparatuses which have a communication function and areconnected to a network such as a Local Area Network (LAN) and a WideArea Network (WAN) constructed of wired or wireless data transmissionpaths.

The operation unit 17 and the display unit 18 may be constructed of aLiquid Crystal Display (LCD) having a key switch (hardware keys) and atouch panel including software keys of Graphical User Interface (GUI).The operation unit 17 and the display unit 18 are User Interfaces (UI)for utilizing the functions of the MFP 10.

An engine unit 19 reads a paper manuscript and prints on a transferpaper as an input and output unit of the image data. The MFP 10 mayfurther provide hardware such as a scanner.

FIG. 3 is a hardware block chart of an image processing server 30 ofEmbodiment 1. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the image processing server 30includes a control unit 31, a main memory unit 32, an auxiliary memoryunit 33, an external memory device I/F unit 34, and a network I/F unit36.

The CPU 31 carries out controls of various units and portions, andarithmetic computation and processing of data in the computer. Thecontrol unit 31 is an arithmetic device which executes programs storedin the main memory unit 32, receives data from an input device or amemory device, provides arithmetic computation and processing withthese, and outputs the results to an output device or the memory device.

The main memory unit 32 may be a ROM or a RAM, and constantly ortemporarily store programs and data, processed by the control unit 31,such as an OS being basic software or an application software.

The auxiliary memory unit 33 may be a HDD and stores data related to theapplication software or the like.

The external memory device I/F unit 34 is an interface between thestorage medium 15 such as a flash memory and the image processing server30 connected via a data communication line such as a USB.

The storage medium 15 stores a predetermined program, and the programstored in the recording medium 15 is installed in the image processingserver 30 via the external memory device I/F unit 34. The installedprogram becomes executable with the image processing server 30.

The network I/F unit 36 is an interface between the image processingserver 30 and peripheral apparatuses which have a communication functionand are connected to a network such as a LAN and a WAN constructed ofwired or wireless data transmission paths.

<Function>

FIG. 4 is a block chart illustrating example functions of the MFP 10 andthe image processing server 30 of Embodiment 1. First, the function ofthe MFP 10 is described. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the MFP 10 includesan image reading portion 101, a communicating portion 102, a receivingportion 103, and a storing portion 104. Functions ordinarily provided inMPFs such as a printer function, a copy function and a facsimilefunction are not illustrated.

The image reading portion 101 acquires the image data by reading amanuscript with a scan function. The image data are acquired viafacsimile, from the information processing terminal 50, or from a hotfolder on a network.

The communicating portion 102 transmits and receives apparatusinformation, image data or the like. Especially, the communicatingportion 102 transmits the image data and a request for processing theimage data to the image processing server 30 when the request forprocessing or the like is made by the user.

The receiving portion 103 receives a designation of the workflow fromthe user. The designation of the workflow may be carried out using anoperations panel (e.g. the operation unit 17 and the display unit 18) ofthe MFP 10. At this time, bibliographic information of the processincluded in the workflow is input by the user. The bibliographicinformation may be an image type or an image size in case of an imageconverting process, and a mail address of a delivery destination in caseof a mail delivery. The user ID as the bibliographic information isacquired from user information of the user who has logged into thesystem.

The storing portion 104 stores plug-ins of the image converting processand an output process, or a one or more workflows formed by assemblingthe plug-ins. The storing portion 104 may not be provided. It ispossible to acquire information related to the workflow from the storingportion 306 of the image processing server 30 without providing thestoring portion 104. The image reading portion 101 can be realized by ascanner. The receiving portion 103 is realized by control of theoperation unit 17 and the display unit 18 with the control unit 11, andthe communicating portion 102 is realized by control of the externalmemory device I/F unit 14 with the control unit 11. The storing unit 104may be realized by the auxiliary memory unit 33.

Next, the function of the image processing server 30 is described. Theimage processing server 30 includes a workflow setting portion 301, acommunicating portion 302, a job executing portion 303, a workflowcontrolling portion 304, a workflow processing portion 305, and astoring portion 306.

When a user sets up a workflow formed by arbitrarily assembling plug-insof the image converting process or the output process, the workflowsetting portion 301 stores the set workflow in the storing portion 306in, for example, a XML form. The workflow setting portion 301 controls aUI screen or the like for setting the workflow to be displayed on theinformation processing terminal 50.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of setting up a workflow and an imagedividing plug-in. The screen illustrated in FIG. 5 is displayed in thedisplay unit of the information processing terminal 50. The users canarbitrarily assemble the plug-ins to construct the workflow. Theconstructed workflow is transmitted to the image processing server 30from the information processing terminal 50 and stored in the storingportion 306 described later.

Referring back to FIG. 4, the communicating portion 302 transmits andreceives the apparatus information, the image data or the like.Specifically, the communicating portion 302 receives the image data fromthe MFP 10 and transmits the image data subjected to the imageprocessing to a destination of delivering the workflow.

The communication portion 302 receives identification information of theworkflow, bibliographic information of processes of the workflows andthe like from the MFP 10. When a request for processing the workflow(e.g. job request) is received from the MFP 10, the communicatingportion 302 outputs the identification information of the workflow, thebibliographic information of processing the workflows or the like to thejob executing portion 303.

The job executing portion 303 carries out the job requested by the MFP10. The job executing portion 303 sends the request for processing theworkflow to the workflow controlling portion 304, and outputs theidentification information of the workflows, the bibliographicinformation of processing the workflows or the image data to theworkflow controlling portion 304.

When the workflow controlling portion 304 receives the request forprocessing the workflows from the job executing portion 303, theworkflow controlling portion 304 controls execution of various processeswhich are included in the workflows. Further, when the workflowprocessing portion 305 receives an instruction for controlling theworkflows from the workflow controlling portion 304, the workflowprocessing portion 305 carries out the workflows in conformity with theinstruction and carries out the delivery. Said differently, the workflowprocessing portion 305 sequentially carries out the processes includedin the workflows and delivers the image data to the destinations ofdelivery.

The processes carried out by the workflow processing portion 305 can bedivided into the image converting process, the output process (deliveryprocess) or the like. The image converting process is a process ofconverting an image data form, an image dividing process, or the like.The output process is a process of delivering the acquired image data ofan image subjected to the image conversion to the destinations ofdelivery such as the mail delivery server and the image managing server40. The workflow processing portion 305 carries out at least the outputprocess.

The storing portion 306 stores plug-ins of the image converting processand the output process, or one or more workflows formed by assemblingthe plug-ins.

The workflow setting portion 301, the job executing portion 302, theworkflow controlling portion 304, and the workflow processing portion305 may be carried out by the control unit 31. The storing unit 306 maybe realized by the auxiliary memory unit 33. The communicating portion302 may be realized by controlling the external memory device I/F unit34 with the control unit 31.

Next, the workflow processing portion 305 is described. FIG. 6 is ablock chart illustrating example functions of the workflow processingportion 305 of Embodiment 1. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the workflowprocessing portion 305 may include an image converting process portion350 and an output processing portion 353.

The image converting process portion 350 includes an image dividingportion 351 and a form converting portion 352. The image dividingportion 351 divides the image data by using metadata of the image data.The metadata include a length, a width, a resolution, a compressiontype, an extension, or the like. The metadata include the length andwidth of the image data assizes of the longitudinal and lateral sidesincluded in the metadata. When the width of the longitudinal sideincluded in the metadata is less than the length, the width can be usedas the size of the longitudinal side.

The image dividing portion 351 specifies the size of the longitudinalside from the metadata and vertically divides the longitudinal side inhalves into two portions. For example, the image dividing portion 351may divide an image of A3 size into two sheets of images of A4 size.

The image dividing portion 351 may convert the divided images intoimages arranged in a predetermined direction and having a predeterminedsize. For example, the image dividing portion 351 may rightwardly rotatethe divided image by 90 degrees and enlarge the image to have theoriginal size. With this, the image data aggregated in 2-in-1 may beconverted to image data having the original size and direction.

The image dividing portion 351 may carry out character recognition in apredetermined region of the divided image data thereby acquiring a pagenumber. The character recognition can be easily carried out byinstalling an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) function into theimage processing server 30. The image dividing portion can arrange thedivided image data in an order of pages by acquiring the page numbers.The process of arranging in the order of the pages may be carried outafter converting to the image data having the predetermined directionand size. The predetermined region mentioned above is a region to whichthe page number is added, for example, and an end portion in thelongitudinal side of the image data in case of 2-in-1.

The data form which can be handled by the image dividing portion 351 isTIFF(MH, MR, MMR, uncompressed:single page), TIFF-F(MH, MR, MMR,uncompressed:single page), DCX(single page), BMP(uncompressed), JPEG,EXIF, PNG, GIF, or the like.

The form converting portion 352 converts the data form of the imagedata. For example, the form converting portion 352 may convert to adesired data form such as a PDF format, a JPEG format, a BMP format orthe like.

The output processing portion 353 carries out a process of outputtingthe image data to a destination of delivery. The output processingportion 353 includes a folder delivering portion 354, a mailtransmitting portion 355, or the like. The folder delivering portion 354delivers image data to a predetermined folder. The mail transmittingportion 355 transmits mail to which the image data are attached to apredetermined sender.

Hereinafter, a specific example of dividing images is described. Theprocess of dividing images may be carried out by the image dividingportion 351. FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C illustrate an example 1 ofdividing the image. FIG. 7A illustrates the image before the divisionand a dividing position represented by a dotted line. FIG. 7Billustrates the image divided at the dividing position. FIG. 7Cillustrates images converted to have the same direction and size asthose of the image before the division illustrated in FIG. 7B. Theconverting process illustrated in FIG. 7C is not indispensable.

In the case of FIG. 7B, the metadata of the divided image data have thelength being the width of the image data before the division and thewidth being a half of the length of the image data before the division,and other items (e.g. resolution) the same as those of the metadatabefore the division. The metadata of the divided image data may be thesame as the metadata of the original image data in the case of FIG. 70.

FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C illustrate an example 2 of dividing animage. Referring to FIG. 8A in comparison with FIG. 7A, a page number isadded to the image. In case of 2-in-1, the image dividing portion 351carries out character recognition for a region 1 (i.e. a right endregion of the image) and acquires the page number. The region in whichthe character recognition is carried out may be previously set. FIG. 8Billustrates example images which are obtained by dividing the imageillustrated in FIG. 8A and arranged in the order of the page numbers.The image dividing portion 351 can arrange the divided image data in theorder of the page numbers using the image data acquired while carryingout the character recognition. FIG. 8C illustrates images converted tohave the same direction and size as those of the image before thedivision illustrated in FIG. 8B. The converting process illustrated inFIG. 8C is not indispensable.

<Operations>

Next, an operation of the image processing system of Embodiment 1 isdescribed. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example workflow process ofEmbodiment 1. In step S101 illustrated in FIG. 9, the MFP 10 reads theimage data by a scanner or the like and acquires the image data. The MFP10 may acquire the image data already stored in the main memory unit 12or the auxiliary memory unit 13 in acquiring the image data. The MFP 10may acquire the image data stored into a hot folder being an arbitraryfolder in the network by using a function of the hot folder.

The receiving portion receives a workflow designated by the user fromthe workflow displayed on the operations panel. When identificationinformation is added to each workflow, the receiving portion 103 mayoutput the received identification information and the image data of thereceived workflow to the communication portion 102.

In step S103, the communication portion 102 sends a request forprocessing the workflow including the identification information of theworkflow along with the image data.

In step S104, the communication portion 302 of the image processingserver 30 receives the request for processing the workflow containingthe identification information of the workflow along with the image datafrom the MFP 10.

In step S105, the workflow controlling portion 304 refers to the storingportion 306 using the identification information of the workflowcontained in the received request for processing the workflow andspecifies processes included in the workflow. The workflow controllingportion 304 controls the order of the workflow and makes the workflowprocessing portion 305 carry out the processes. The workflow processingportion 305 carries out the processes included in the workflow andfinally delivers the image data to a destination of delivery.

Next, the process of the image dividing plug-in of Embodiment 1 isdescribed. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example workflow process ofEmbodiment 1. When the image dividing plug-in is included in theworkflow, the image dividing process is carried out by the imagedividing portion 351 included in the workflow processing portion 305. Instep S201 illustrated in FIG. 10, the image dividing portion 351acquires the image data to be divided. The image data to be divided areacquired from the MFP 10.

In step S202, the image dividing portion 351 refers to the length of aside of the image contained in the metadata of the acquired image dataand specifies the referred side as the longitudinal side. When the widthof the image is greater than the length of the image, the width may bespecified as the longitudinal side.

In step S203, the image dividing portion 351 vertically divides theimage at a position halving the longitudinal side.

In step S204, the image dividing portion 351 rotates the divided imagein a predetermined direction and enlarges the divided image to be apredetermined size. The predetermined direction may be 90 degrees in theclockwise direction, and the predetermined size may be A4 size. Theimage dividing portion 351 may carry out character recognition of thepage numbers and rearrange the image data converted to have thepredetermined size in the order of the page numbers. Step S204 is notindispensable.

With Embodiment 1, by installing the image dividing plug-in into theimage processing server 30, it is possible to include the image dividingplug-in in the workflow. The image data are divided, and the dividedimage data may be delivered to the destination of delivery.

With Embodiment 1, it is possible to rotate the image in thepredetermined direction and enlarge it to be the predetermined size.Further, with Embodiment 1, the page number may be subjected tocharacter recognition thereby arranging the divided images or theconverted images in the order of the page numbers.

Embodiment 2

Next, the image processing server of Embodiment 2 is described. WithEmbodiment 2, the user can set the dividing position of the image. Withthis, the user can freely divide the image at a position desired by theuser.

<Function>

Next, the function of the image processing server 70 of Embodiment 2 isdescribed. FIG. 11 is a block chart illustrating example functions ofthe MFP 60 and the image processing server 70 of Embodiment 2. WithEmbodiment 2, the components other than a setting portion 601 and aworkflow processing portion 701 are similar to those of Embodiment 1.

The setting portion 601 illustrated in FIG. 11 makes a user set up adividing position of the image on an operations panel of a MFP 60. Thefollowing two examples may be used in setting the dividing position.

FIG. 12 illustrates a setup example 1 of a dividing position. Asillustrated in FIG. 12, a longitudinal dividing position A and a lateraldividing position B are displayed on images displayed on an operationspanel. When a longitudinal button C is pushed down, the longitudinaldividing position A is refrained from being displayed. When thelongitudinal button C is pushed down again, the longitudinal dividingposition is displayed again. A lateral button D is similar to thelongitudinal button C.

A cursor E is displayed on the operations panel. When a cursor of ahardware key exists, the cursor of the hardware key may be used. Thereare functions for upward and downward moving of the dividing position Bexecuted by using up and down arrows. There are functions for rightwardand leftward moving of the dividing position B executed by using rightand left arrows. An OK button F is provided to determine thelongitudinal dividing position A and the lateral dividing position Brelative to the image data. A Cancel button G is provided to reset thedividing position and return to an original workflow designating screen.

When the OK button F is pushed down, the setting portion 601 addspositional information for dividing the image data in the longitudinaland lateral positions to bibliographic information of the workflow.

FIG. 13 illustrates a setup example 2 of the dividing position. Asillustrated in FIG. 13, aggregation information is displayed on theoperations panel. By pushing down a 2-in-1 button H or a 4-in-1 buttonI, the setting portion sets the aggregation information. Functions of anOK button F and a Cancel button G are similar to those illustrated inFIG. 12.

The setting portion 601 works to add the set aggregation information tothe bibliographic information of the workflow. When the aggregationinformation is known, it is possible to specify the dividing position ofthe image. In the case of 2-in-1, as described in Embodiment 1, thelongitudinal side of the image may be halved in a directionperpendicular to the longitudinal side. In the case of 4-in-1, thelength and width contained in the metadata of the image are halved inperpendicular directions of the longitudinal and lateral directions,respectively. The setting portion 601 has a function of controlling a UIscreen illustrated in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13.

Referring back to FIG. 11, the workflow processing portion 701 carriesout the dividing process at a dividing position set by the user. FIG. 14is a block chart illustrating example functions of the workflowprocessing portion 701 of Embodiment 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, functions other than that of the imagedividing portion 711 are similar to the functions illustrated in FIG. 6.The image dividing portion 711 divides the image data based on dividingposition information when the dividing position information is acquired.For example, with the setup example 1, because the longitudinal and alateral dividing position are included in the request for processing theworkflow, the image dividing portion 711 divides the image data inconformity with these dividing positions. For example, with the setupexample 2, because the aggregation information is included in therequest for processing the workflow, the image dividing portion 711divides the image data based on the aggregation information.

FIG. 15A, FIG. 15B and FIG. 15C are schematic views of dividing theimage with the setup example 1. FIG. 15A illustrates the image beforedividing the image data and the longitudinal dividing position A and thelateral dividing position B. FIG. 15B illustrates the images divided atthe dividing positions. FIG. 15C illustrates image converted to have thesame direction and size as those of the image data before the divisionillustrated in FIG. 15B. The converting process illustrated in FIG. 15Cis not indispensable.

Metadata of the divided image data are set to have length and widthafter the division, and other parts of the metadata are the same asthose of the original image data. The metadata of the divided image datamay be the same as the metadata of the original image data in case ofFIG. 15C.

FIG. 16A, FIG. 16B and FIG. 16C are schematic views of dividing theimage with the setup example 2. FIG. 16A illustrates the image beforedividing the image data and a longitudinal dividing position A and alateral dividing position B. In the setup example 2, when theaggregation information is known, the longitudinal dividing position Aand the lateral dividing position B are determined. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 16A, there is described a case where the aggregationinformation is 4-in-1.

FIG. 16B illustrates the image divided at the dividing positions. FIG.16C illustrates the images converted to have the same direction and sizeas those of the image data before the division illustrated in FIG. 16B.The converting process illustrated in FIG. 16C is not indispensable.

The metadata of the divided image data are set to have the length andwidth respectively which are halves of the length and width of theoriginal image, and other parts of the metadata are the same as those ofthe original image data. The metadata of the divided image data may bethe same as the metadata of the original image data in case of FIG. 16C.

<Operations>

Next, an operation of the image processing server of Embodiment 2 isdescribed. FIG. 17 is a flowchart of an example workflow process ofEmbodiment 2. Referring to FIG. 17, the identical numerical referencesare used for processes similar to those in FIG. 9, and description ofthese processes is omitted.

In step S301 of FIG. 17, the user sets the dividing position in thesetting portion 601. The setup of the dividing positions is the same asthose described in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. The setting portion 601 can setthe dividing portion by using any one of the setups illustrated in FIG.12 and FIG. 13.

In step S302, the workflow processing portion 701 divides the image databased on the dividing position information set in step 301, and deliversthe divided image data to the destination of delivery.

Next, the process of the image dividing plug-in of Embodiment 2 isdescribed. FIG. 18 is a flowchart of an example image dividing processof Embodiment 2. Referring to FIG. 18, the identical numericalreferences are used for processes similar to those in FIG. 10, anddescription of these processes is omitted.

In step S401 of FIG. 10, the image dividing portion 711 acquiresdividing position information which includes the aggregation informationand is included in the request for processing the workflow to therebyspecify the dividing position of the image data. When the dividingposition of the image data is specified, the rest of the processes aresimilar to those described with reference to FIG. 10.

With Embodiment 2, the page number is subjected to the characterrecognition of the page number, and the divided images or the convertedimages may be arranged in the order of the page number. When the pagenumber is not attached to the image data, it is possible to designatethe order of arranging the image data displayed on the operations panel.The order of arranging the image data may be contained in thebibliographic information and transmitted to the image processing server70. The designation of the order of arranging the image data is similarto that in Embodiment 1.

As described, with Embodiment 2, the dividing position of the image datacan be set by the user, and the image data are freely divided at aposition desired by the user.

Modified Example

Next, a MFP in the modified example is described. In the modifiedexample, the image processing server is assembled in the MFP. Functionsof the MFP in which the image processing server is assembled in themodified example are basically similar to the functions of the MFP andimage processing server illustrated in FIG. 4. The MFP of the modifiedexample can carry out the processes described in the Embodiments.

Programs carried out in the image processing server of Embodiments 1 and2 and the MFP of the modified example may be provided by being recordedin a computer readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexibledisk (FD), a CD-R, a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) in forms of fileswhich can be installed in or executed by a computer.

The program executed by the image processing server of Embodiments 1 and2 and the MFP of the modified example may be stored in a computerconnected to a network such as the Internet and enabled to be installedvia the network. Further, the program executed by the image processingserver of Embodiments 1 and 2 and the MFP of the modified example may beserved or distributed via the network such as the Internet.

Further, the program executed by the image processing server ofEmbodiments 1 and 2 and the MFP of the modified example may be stored ina ROM or the like and provided.

The program executed by the image processing server of Embodiments 1 and2 and the MFP of the modified example may have a module structure inwhich the above described units and portions are included. Actualhardware is constructed such that a processor (CPU) reads out a programfrom the auxiliary memory unit and executes the program, while one orplural of the units and pieces of the program are loaded in the mainmemory to activate the units and pieces.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended forpedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principlesof the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor tofurthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitationto such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does theorganization of such examples in the specification relate to a showingof the superiority or inferiority of the invention. Although theembodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, itshould be understood that various changes, substitutions, andalterations could be made thereto without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

This patent application is based on Japanese Priority Patent ApplicationNo. 2010-009384 filed on Jan. 19, 2010, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated herein by reference.

1. An image processing system including an image forming apparatus andan image processing apparatus connected via a network, wherein the imageforming apparatus comprises: a receiving portion configured to receive adesignation of a workflow which is produced by arbitrarily assembling atleast a plug-in of an image dividing and converting process for imagedata and a plug-in of an output process and includes an image dividingand converting process for dividing the image data; and a communicatingportion configured to transmit a request for processing the workflow tothe image processing apparatus along with the image data received fromthe image forming apparatus, wherein the image processing apparatuscomprises: a workflow controlling portion configured to carry out anyone of the image dividing and converting process, the output process,and the divided image dividing and converting process included in theworkflow when a request for carrying out the any one of the imagedividing and converting process, the output process, and the imagedividing and converting process is received from the image formingapparatus; and a workflow processing portion configured to carry out theworkflow while dividing the image data by using a length of alongitudinal side of the image data based on a control with the workflowcontrolling portion.
 2. The image processing system according to claim1, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises: a settingportion configured to set up positional information designating adividing position at which the image data are to be divided, wherein therequest for processing includes the set positional information, and theworkflow processing portion divides the image data based on the setpositional information.
 3. The image processing system according toclaim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a settingportion configured to set up aggregation information for the image data,the request for processing transmitted from the communicating portion tothe image processing apparatus includes the set aggregation information,and the workflow processing portion divides the image data by using awidth of a lateral side of the image data received from the imageforming apparatus in addition to the length of the longitudinal sidebased on the set aggregation information included in the request forprocessing.
 4. The image processing system according to claim 1, whereinthe workflow processing portion carries out character recognition ofpage numbers of the divided image data and arranges the divided imagedata in an order of the page numbers.
 5. The image processing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the workflow processing portion convertsthe divided image data to have a predetermined size and a predetermineddirection.
 6. An image processing apparatus connected to an imageforming apparatus via a network, the image processing apparatuscomprising: a storing portion configured to store at least a plug-in ofan image dividing and converting process and a plug-in of an outputprocess; a communicating portion configured to receive a request forprocessing a workflow which is produced by arbitrarily assembling atleast the plug-in of the image dividing and converting process and theplug-in of the output process and receive image data; a workflowcontrolling portion configured to control the image dividing andconverting process and the output process when a request for carryingout the image dividing and converting process or the output process isreceived from the image forming apparatus; and a workflow processingportion configured to carry out the workflow while dividing the imagedata by using a length of a longitudinal side of the image data based ona control with the workflow controlling portion.
 7. The image processingapparatus according to claim 6, wherein, when the request for carryingout the image dividing and converting process or the output processfurther includes a positional information, the workflow processingportion divides the image data based on the positional information. 8.The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein theworkflow processing portion divides, when aggregation informationindicative of aggregation of the image data is included in the requestfor processing, the image data by using a width of a lateral side of theimage data received from the image forming apparatus in addition to thelength of the longitudinal side based on the aggregation information. 9.The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein theworkflow processing portion carries out character recognition of pagenumbers of the divided image data and arranges the divided image data inan order of the page numbers.
 10. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein the workflow processing portion convertsthe divided image data to have a predetermined size and a predetermineddirection.
 11. A non-transitory recording medium saving programs, theprograms when executed by computers causing the computers to function asan image forming apparatus including: a receiving portion configured toreceive a designation of a workflow which is produced by arbitrarilyassembling at least a plug-in of an image dividing and convertingprocess for image data and a plug-in of an output process and includesan image dividing and converting process for dividing the image data;and a communicating portion configured to transmit a request forprocessing the workflow to the image processing apparatus along with thereceived from the image forming apparatus, and an image processingapparatus connected to the image forming apparatus via a networkincluding a workflow controlling portion configured to carry out any oneof the image dividing and converting process, the output process, andthe divided image dividing and converting process included in theworkflow when a request for carrying out the any one of the imagedividing and converting process, the output process, and the imagedividing and converting process is received from the image formingapparatus; and a workflow processing portion configured to carry out theworkflow while dividing the image data by using a length of alongitudinal side of the image data based on a control with the workflowcontrolling portion.